By Robert Wilson
Brandon is back in the state championship game for the third time in the past four seasons, and the Bulldogs can thank two talented sophomores for helping them get there again.
Running back Tyson Robinson had 162 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and three catches for 25 yards and one TD and quarterback Sladen Shack completed 14 of 20 passes for 170 yards and two TDs to lead Brandon to a 31-13 victory over Ocean Springs in the MHSAA Class 7A semifinals Friday night in Ocean Springs.
Brandon improved to 12-1 and won its 10th game in a row with its only loss a 65-62 decision to Clinton in the third game of the season. The Bulldogs lost to Oak Grove in the 7A semifinals last season but reached the championship game in 2021 (losing to Madison Central) and in 2022 (losing to Starkville). Brandon is looking for its first state championship in school history.
Brandon meets Tupelo, 13-0 and a 21-3 winner over Madison Central in the other semifinal, for the 7A state title Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg (televised by MEtv and radio on ESPN The Zone 105.9 FM). Brandon hasn’t met Tupelo since the 2018 season. Brandon won 34-6.
Ocean Springs finished 8-5 and broke its seven-game winning streak.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Robinson ran for his first TD, a 3-yarder, for a 7-0 Brandon lead with 8 minutes, 12 seconds to play in the first quarter.
He added his second TD, a 1-yarder, for a 14-6 Brandon lead with 32 seconds to play in the first quarter.
The 6-1, 190-pound Slack completed a 19-yard TD pass to Robinson for a 21-6 Brandon lead with 13 seconds to play in the second quarter.
Slack completed a 21-yard pass to senior wide receiver and South Alabama baseball commitment Jay McQueen for a 31-6 Brandon lead with 8:01 to play in the fourth quarter.
Robinson – who has 17 Division I offers, including SEC schools Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M – now has 1,239 rushing yards and 23 TDs this season and 655 receiving yards and 10 TDs this season. Shack – who has a Division I offer from Central Arkansas – has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,405 yards and 24 TDs.
“Tyson set the tone early with his physicality and playmaking ability,” said Brandon coach Sam Williams, who has an 82-20 overall record in seven seasons, including a 45-9 record in four seasons at Brandon. “Tyson is such a great kid and leader, and Friday night he went out there and played like the dude he is. We have really managed his touches well this year to keep him fresh, but not it’s time to hunt.”
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years and Tyson is as good as I’ve seen,” Brandon offensive coordinator Wyatt Rogers said. “And Sladen Slack came back from an ankle sprain (in last week’s win over Petal) and played extremely well. We have grown up a lot since August. I’m so proud of our kids.”
Brandon produced 402 total yards and limited Ocean Springs to 147 total yards. It was the least number of points Ocean Springs had scored since 2019.
Senior linebacker Khalil Norwood – nephew of former Brandon, Mississippi State and NFL running back Jerious Norwood – led Brandon with 15 tackles, one for loss, and three quarterback hurries. Junior linebacker Ashton Moore had 10 tackles, two for loss. Senior linebacker Clifton Jobe had nine tackles, two for loss and two hurries. Junior defensive back Preston Ashley – the No. 9 player in the Mississippi and No. 22 safety in the country in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports with 14 Division I offers, including eight from the SEC – had eight tackles, one for loss.
“I was really proud of the effort we played with,” Brandon defensive coordinator Greg Robinson said. “The defensive backs kept the ball in front and didn’t give up any big plays. The interception that (senior defensive back Jamerion) Rollins had with 45 seconds left in the half was a huge play. We stopped them and gave our offense the ball and they took it and scored before half. That was huge. Our defensive line was outsized again like every game, but those guys play with tremendous effort. The entire team plays with something that can’t be measured on a combine sheet. Heart and effort. I love to watch them play.”
“It was such a great night,” Williams said. “It was so proud of our kids for answering the bell, handling a long road trip, and beating a well-coached, hot team. We have really been playing great team football, and our energy and effort has been better than I have ever seen it. We were a young team to start this year, but those guys are vets now. Friday night, they rode the highs and lows and delivered the knockout blows when they needed to. I’m proud of our kids, love we are, one more.”
